Replay could come very soon

MAJOR-LEAGUE NOTES

Major League Baseball is working out technical issues to start instant replay for boundary calls such as home runs, hoping to institute the system later this year.

"We've got lots of time in August," Bob DuPuy, the sport's chief operating officer, said Wednesday as a two-day owners' meeting began. "There's plenty of August still to go."

Replay was among the topics discussed but doesn't require a vote because it is not a rule change.

"There's not any opposition to it that I've heard," DuPuy said.

Commissioner Bud Selig, once a staunch opponent, appears to be more comfortable with the use of replay. Agreements are needed with the players' association and umpires' union.

"We don't need a lot of lead-up," DuPuy said. "What we need is stuff installed, and what we need is people to make sure it's going to work, and what we need is for the umpires to understand the protocol. What we need is to make sure that everyone who's participating understands it."

A rash of missed boundary calls - fair or foul, over the fence or not - prompted the Selig to alter his opposition. Replays would not be used to review close plays on the bases or balls and strikes.

Injury updates: Rays outfielder Carl Crawford will undergo surgery on his right hand today and will be sidelined at least until the final series of the regular season - maybe longer. He injured his middle finger on his final at-bat Saturday in Seattle.

-- A week of light tossing behind him, Dodgers closer Takashi Saito said he is more optimistic about being able to pitch again this season than when he was put on the disabled list July 18 with a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Saito still could have season-ending surgery, but he will continue throwing and be examined in two weeks.

-- Boston put third baseman Mike Lowell on the 15-day DL because of a strained left oblique muscle.

-- The Brewers placed infielder-outfielder Russell Branyan on the 15-day DL with a strained muscle in his right side.

-- Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya has been put back on the 15-day DL with a sore right shoulder.

Briefly: Arizona activated left-hander Doug Slaten (right knee), out since July 19. ... The Indians called up left-hander Zach Jackson, acquired in the CC Sabathia trade from Milwaukee, from Triple-A Buffalo.